SECTION 54: GEM SECRET PASSAGE, LAVAROCK OVERLORD FLOWER
By Gu Zhenren
February 9, 2013
The blacksmith shops on Steaming Cage Island were largely built underground to take advantage of the abundant geothermal energy. The underground weapon forging room belonging to Zhong Qi was, in fact, the foremost of its kind on the island.
Spanning a hundred mu with complete and superior facilities, Zhong Qi rarely accepted commissions from ordinary forces, as Master Yu Ya explained. His clientele consisted of powerful entities like Jia Family Island.
“Although I don’t approve of his character, the Thousand-Armed Artisan on the Talented Person Ranking is certainly worth his price,” Jin Bihan said with a pout.
“What a grand underground weapon forging room, it has a magnificent aura…” Yan Que remarked, gazing at the entrance of the forging room with emotion.
Located in the central part of Steaming Cage Island, the forging room’s entrance, several zhang high, was embedded within a mountainside. According to Master Yu Ya, Zhong Qi was a man of great scope; not only had he hollowed out this entire small mountain, but he had also expanded the space underground to several hundred mu, effectively creating a miniature underground palace.
“Strange, the gate is still shut,” Master Yu Ya frowned, puzzled. “It’s no different from when I came before. Has Zhong Qi really returned?”
Chu Yun signaled to Yan Que with his eyes. The latter nodded and stepped forward, calling out loudly, “This junior comes from Tiange Academy, sent to fulfill a commission. I am here to seek an audience with Sir Thousand-Armed Artisan.”
There was no response. The area around the small mountain was eerily silent.
“I seek an audience with Sir Thousand-Armed Artisan.” Taking a deep breath, Yan Que spoke again.
The mountain wind blew, carrying the characteristic heat of Steaming Cage Island. Still, there was not the slightest stir.
Master Yu Ya snorted, and Jin Bihan’s expression soured. “He sent a letter of challenge, yet he seals the gate and refuses to appear. This is Zhong Qi showing his contempt for us. In my opinion, we should just break in and seize the prescription!”
Princess Dunhuang harbored no goodwill towards the despicable Zhong Qi either.
Chu Yun remained silent, sensing something amiss and pondering the situation.
Yan Que returned dejectedly, and Zhong Qi still did not show himself.
Chu Yun suddenly declared, “We will break in.” He tapped the Immortal Pouch at his waist and summoned the Sky Fox. The Sky Fox, the size of a warhorse, was majestic and elegant, exuding the aura of a Great Demon.
Master Yu Ya’s gaze was filled with astonishment. “What kind of Demonic Beast is this?” he inquired.
“A mutated Fire Fox,” Chu Yun explained to outsiders.
Master Yu Ya’s brow furrowed slightly. Filled with surprise, he mused, “A mutated Demonic Beast that can grow to the level of a Great Demon is truly rare.”
Chu Yun didn’t reply. Instead, he pointed at the gate and commanded the Sky Fox, “Blast it open with explosive pill fire.”
The Sky Fox opened its maw, unleashing a torrent of enormous, dark red pill fire. With a boom, the violent explosion reverberated across Steaming Cage Island, and countless stones tumbled down the mountainside.
After the dust settled, the gate remained unharmed.
“I sense the power of a Demonic Plant guarding this gate,” Yan Que stated.
“Curious,” Jin Bihan squinted instinctively. “Zhong Qi hasn’t reacted at all, even though we’ve come to his doorstep. Brother Chu, I have a feeling that the atmosphere is not right.”
“Continue bombarding it with explosive pill fire,” Chu Yun commanded impassively.
Boom, boom, boom!
After three assaults, the gate was finally blasted open, revealing the scene within.
The sound of the explosions rumbled like thunder, yet the forging room remained deathly silent.
Yan Que frowned; the situation was highly unusual.
“Regardless, Zhong Qi’s tactic of meeting force with non-resistance has proven effective. To be honest, I feel a sense of unease. The other party is clearly confident and operating from the shadows, likely having set a trap for us.” He spoke with a grave expression.
“Alas, to think I once considered him a lifelong confidant and close friend. I never imagined he would turn out to be this kind of person. Whatever trap lies ahead, I will brave it. Zhong Qi, I truly wish to see what heights you have reached after consuming the Heaven Spirit True Heart Pill.” Master Yu Ya’s face was somber, clearly recalling past events. His heart was filled with resentment and anger at Zhong Qi’s betrayal.
The four entered in single file, soon arriving in a large hall.
The hall had a square layout, with braziers at the four corners emitting small, steady flames. This cast the entire hall in a flickering light and shadow, creating an oppressive atmosphere.
“What is that?” Yan Que’s eyes sharpened as he pointed forward.
“This seems to be…” Jin Bihan frowned slightly, a thought stirring in her mind, yet she couldn’t quite grasp it.
“This is a Gem Secret Passage,” Chu Yun’s voice cut in, his tone steady, with a subtle hint of nostalgia.
“Strange, that should be a wall. Why has it been converted into a Gem Secret Passage? What is Zhong Qi up to?” Master Yu Ya looked puzzled.
An oval gem was embedded in the wall, which had a dull yellow hue. It shimmered with a brilliant sapphire fluorescence, drawing particular attention.
This was the Gem Secret Passage. Essentially, it was a type of Demon Soldier crafted by a Weapon Forger. Gem Secret Passages came in pairs, connecting to form a spatial passage. A passphrase or other peculiar conditions were integrated into the secret passage, and only by fulfilling these conditions could one traverse it and reach the other secret passage. They were commonly used as security measures for tombs or realms.
“That’s right, it is!” Jin Bihan smiled at Chu Yun. “Brother Chu, you’re still the most perceptive.”
Chu Yun smiled. He was certainly no stranger to such secret passages, having encountered many in his past explorations. His experience with them was extensive.
Yan Que nodded as well. He now recalled encountering information about Gem Secret Passages in books. It was just that seeing a real Gem Secret Passage for the first time made it difficult to connect.
He gently touched the smooth surface of the secret passage, and suddenly, streams of light erupted, like dazzling fireworks blooming within the sapphire.
After a magnificent display of light and shadow, a sentence formed: “Yu Ya! This old man has already consumed the Heaven Spirit True Heart Pill. If you want to see me, you’ll have to prove you’re worthy! Go to the table and select materials suitable for forging Upper grade Demon Soldiers. Only by gaining the passage’s approval can you proceed. Otherwise, get lost, hahaha!”
“Select materials?” Jin Bihan frowned subtly. “Are these the ones?”
In front of the sapphire Gem Secret Passage in the hall, a long table was laid out, covered with a dazzling array of forging materials. Various metals and strange, mysterious objects were displayed, dazzling the eye.
“These materials…” Master Yu Ya was stunned. Upon closer inspection, he exclaimed in surprise, “Aren’t these all the high-quality materials Zhong Qi usually collects?”
“These materials are extremely valuable. It seems Zhong Qi is very confident in himself. Consuming the Heaven Spirit True Heart Pill must have indeed greatly boosted his strength, otherwise, he wouldn’t be so arrogantly confident,” Chu Yun commented. He sensed a sense of supreme arrogance, looking down on all beings, in Zhong Qi’s message on the Gem Secret Passage.
“Alas, can a single prescription change a person so much? Zhong Qi used to drink with me often and encouraged me to regain my confidence and keep striving. I always considered him a true friend, a lifelong confidant. I never imagined he would be this kind of person!”
Master Yu Ya’s voice was filled with regret, anger, and deep confusion. He began selecting materials from the table.
Though his strength was diminished, his Master-level discernment remained. Moreover, these forging materials were all exquisite. Soon, Master Yu Ya finished selecting his materials, and holding the pile, he approached the sapphire Gem Secret Passage.
The secret passage immediately emitted a powerful, dazzling blue light, almost blinding. Suddenly, the light dimmed, and the smooth, slightly protruding surface of the Gem Secret Passage formed a vortex of azure light.
Everyone was pleasantly surprised, marveling at Master Yu Ya’s skill, and they stepped into the azure light vortex one after another.
In the blink of an eye, their feet touched solid ground. This was another hall, similar in layout to the previous one, with the other sapphire Gem Secret Passage behind them.
“Why is there a large pill furnace?” everyone exclaimed in surprise. Before them stood a huge pill furnace. In the forging room of Master Weapon Forger Zhong Qi, why was there a pill-refining furnace?
The pill furnace was a three-legged, bronze cauldron with a wide mouth, standing about two zhang tall – too large for three people to embrace.
“This is not strange. In his early years, Zhong Qi was a Pill Alchemist. He lacked talent and interest in alchemy, which made him melancholic. I then introduced him to the weapon forging industry. At that time, my strength was unharmed, and I was at my peak. Later, my strength declined, and Zhong Qi began to shine,” Master Yu Ya explained, his gaze distant as he reminisced.
“Strange, there’s a pill inside the furnace,” Yan Que walked forward and discovered a peculiar, dark pill inside.
Chu Yun frowned. “Raging Pill? This is an explosive substance. It can greatly enhance the overall capabilities of a Monster Tamer for a short period, increasing their strength, spirit, and illuminating their inner potential. However, it has severe side effects and causes considerable harm to the body. Wanderers often use it for survival.”
He was very familiar with this Raging Pill, having used it several times out of desperation in his past life. Later, his body developed resistance to its effects, making it less potent, and he stopped taking it. He was acutely aware of its severe after-effects.
“There must be a deeper meaning to this. The answer should be on that yellow Gem Secret Passage,” Chu Yun said, pointing to another wall where a Gem Secret Passage was also embedded. However, it glowed with a yellow light, not matching the sapphire one.
The group circled around the pill furnace, and suddenly, they all froze.
“Huh? There’s a Demonic Plant?” Jin Bihan whispered in surprise. Their view had been blocked by the pill furnace, and only now did they notice the plant.
“Hush, this is a Great Demon-level Demonic Plant, with about 600 years of cultivation. It’s currently in hibernation. Don’t wake it up!” Chu Yun immediately cautioned.
Yan Que understood. “No wonder we didn’t notice it when we entered. It was asleep, and its demonic energy was so contained that we couldn’t sense it.”
“This is a Lavarock Overlord Flower,” Chu Yun concluded after observing it for a moment.
The Lavarock Overlord Flower had a thick stem, comparable to an elephant’s, and its height was equivalent to three grown men stacked together. Its massive petals were thick and crimson, evoking images of volcanic rocks. As its petals unfurled, blooming in full glory, it was comparable to a sea vessel. The entire plant radiated a fiery red hue, exuding an imposing aura.
Even more astonishing, numerous streams of scalding, crimson lava flowed freely within its center, and waves of powerful heat emanated from it, baking the entire hall.
